Hydraulic control valve assembly



7, 0 E. M. PFAUSER ETAL 2,526,406

HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 1, 1945 Patented Oct. 17, 1950 HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVE AssEMBLY Edward M. Pfauser, Elm Grove, and Siegmund Mandi, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Blackhawk Mfg. 00., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 1, 1945, Serial No. 614,024

Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements pertaining to the art of' hydraulics, and

relates more specifically to improvements in hydraulic power transmission systems and to control mechanisms for such systems.

The primary object of our invention is to provide an improved hydraulic power transmission system which is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

It has heretofore been common commercial practice to utilize hydraulic power transmission systems each ordinarily comprising a source of liquid under pressure and a ram or the like operable by liquid derived from said source, to perform diverse classes of work; and in such a system it is desirable to have liquid pressure constantly available so that the ram or other pressure actuated device may be operated at will. In order to make liquid under pressure thus constantly available, a continuously operating positive displacement hydraulic pump may beemployed, but when such a pump is used, provision must be made for controlling the system in a manner whereby either liquid under pressure may be delivered to the ram, or dormant liquid may be confined within the ram displacement chamber,

or liquid may be returned from the ram to the pump liquid supply, or liquid may merely be circulated freely through the pump, all without affecting the continued operation of a the latter.

While it has heretofore been proposed to provide such control systems, these prior mechanisms have not proven entirely satisfactory either because they were too complicated and costly, or because they were sluggish and unreliable in action, or because they were too difficult to manipulate and to properly install.

It is therefore a more specific object of the present invention to provide a new and useful control mechanism for hydraulic power transmission systems of the type wherein a pressure actuated device such as a ram is operable by hydraulic pressure created by a continuously operating pump or the like, in a manner whereby the continuity of operation of the pump is not undesirably affected.

, Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved control valve assemblage for hydraulic power transmission systems, which is simple, compact and durable in construction, and which is also rapid in action and reliable in operation.

A further specific object of our invention is to provide an improved regulating device for a continuously operating pump actuated hydraulic ram system, which is readily operable, easily installed, and which may be manufactured at moderate cost.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved control valve assembly for a hydraulic power system wherein a ram or the like is operable at will by liquid under pressure derived from a continuously operating positive displacement pump, which will either permit the pump to freely circulate the liquid under slight back-pressure when no work is being performed by the ram, or will permit work to be performed by the ram at will, or will permit the ram to be maintained under static load, or will permit the ram elements to be retracted, withoutinterferring with the continued pump operation.

These and other specific objects and advan-- tages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the features constituting our present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of operating hydraulic power actuated'systems embodying the invention, may

be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate-the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a typical hydraulic power system embodying one of the improved control valve assemblages;

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged central vertical section through one of the improved valve assemblages;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary central vertical section through the valve assembly, showing the cooperating valves in ram raising position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3, but showing the valves in ram holding position; and

Fig. 5 is anotherfragmentary sectional view similar to that of Figs. 3 and 4, but showing the valves in ram lowering position.

While the invention has been illustrated and described herein as being especially useful when applied to a hydraulically actuated portable ram system wherein liquid such as oil under pressure is applied to the ram by means of an electric motor driven and continuously operating positive displacement type of hydraulic pump, it is not our desire or intention to unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility by virtue of this limited disclosure. It is also our intent that specific descriptive terms used herein be given the broadest possible meaning and interpretation consistent with the prior art.

Referring to the diagram of Fig. 1, the typical hydraulic power system shown therein comprises in general, a liquid supply source or reservoir l; a rotary positive displacement pump 8 having a suction line 9 in open communication with the liquid supply in the reservoir 1, and also having a discharge line or pipe Ill leading to the exterior of the reservoir; an electric motor i I mounted upon the reservoir 1 and being directly connected to the pump 8 so as to continuously operate the latter at any suitable speed; a portable universally movable ram 12 disposed remote from the reservoir 1, and having a cylinder 13 and a plunger l4 movable therein; one of our improved control valve assemblages l interposed between the reservoir 1 and the ram l2; a single flexible liquid transmitting hose or connection It connecting the ramv plunger displacement chamber with the valve assemblage 15; a flexible high pressure supply line or hose H connectin the pump discharge pipe 85 with the valve assemblage l5; and a flexible liquid return line or tube [8 connecting the reservoir 1 with the valve assemblage 15.

The improved control valve assemblage I5 is shown more in detail in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive,

and consists primarily of. a body or casing l9 having a central through passage connected by ports 2|, 22, 23 with the connection It, hose l? and tube #8. respectively; a ball valve 22 located within the passage 28 between the ports 2|, 22; another ball valve located within the passage 23 between the ports 22, 23; a floa ing element or spacer 23 interposedbetween the ball valves 24, 25; a plug 21 sealing one end of the passage 20; and a valve actuating spindle 28 extending centrally into the opposite end of the passage 20. The ball valves 24, 25 which are interchangeably similar, are disposed coaxial with the central axis of the passage 23.; and the valve 24 is constantly urged toward a, seat 29 formed on the casing l9 by means of a helical compression sprin 38, while the valve 25 is likewise constantly urged toward a seatv 3! formed on a removable seating plug 32 b means of another helical compression Spring 33 which reacts against the spacer 26, see Figs. 3, l and5.

The valve actuating spindle 28 is provided with a reduced inner end portion 34 which is' movable through the seat 3| and is adapted to directly engage the valve 25; and the opposite outer end of the spindle 28 is provided with an actuating wheel 35, while its medial portion is provided with left hand external threads 36 and with a stop ring 37, see Fig. 2. The portion of the spindle between the ring 3'! and the reduced end as is snugly embraced by and is slidable within a V-ring packing 38 which seals the upper end of the passage 22, and a packing clamping nut 39 cooperates with the packin 33 and has internal left hand threads coacting with the spindle threads 33 and external right hand threads fill! coacting with the body IS. The upper outer surface of the adjusting wheel is preferably provided with indicia designating the direction in which the wheel should be turned to raise, lower or to hold the ram plunger l4, and the periphery of the wheel is provided with grip augmenting serrations 4!, while the stop ring 37 carried by the spindle 28 is slidable in a bore in the nut 39 and is adapted to limit vating the plunger l4.

the axial outward and inward axial movement of the spindle 28 as effected by the hand wheel 35. The nut 39 is normally fixed against rotation by a screw 42 coacting with the body l9 and with end slots of the nut, and the hand wheel 32 is detachably secured to the spindle 28 by another screw 43.

It is to be noted that all portions of the body H of the improved valve assemblage [5 may be readily machined from the exterior of this cas ing with the aid, of ordinary drills and taps, and that the improved device may also be conveniently assembled or dismantled with the aid of available tools such as a screw driver and wrenches. The ball valves 24, 25 and springs 30, 33 may be quickly inserted or removed, and the plugs 21, 32 and the packing nut 39 as well as the spindle 28 may be produced with screw machines, thus facilitating manufacture of the assembly 55. The packing 38 may also be of relatively standard construction; and the spacers 26 may likewise be readily produced at moderate cost.

Durin normal operation and use of the improved valve mechanism, the-unit should first be properly assembled and installed in a hydraulic system as shown diagrammaticall in Fig. 1. The portable ram should be capable of being moved about freely to any position, and the flexible connection l6, hose l1, and tube 18 should therefore be made of appropriate length to permit such universal movement of the ram 53. The improved valve assembly l5 may be located relatively near to the ram l3, by utilizing a relatively short connection It, so that the operator may manipulate the hand wheel 35 while observing the work; The pump 8 may then be operated continuously at any appropriate speed by actuating the electric motor H, and the pump 8 will then constantly withdraw liquid from the reservoir 1 through the suction line 9.

When it becomes desirable to raise the plunger M of the ram i3, the hand wheel 35 should be manipulated so 'as to withdraw the spindle 28 from contact with the valve 25 as shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the liquid under pressure delivered by the pump through the discharge pipe 19 and hose El and through the port 22, will positively open the ball valve 24- as shown in Fig. 3, and will positively close the ball valve 25, thus compelling the liquid to flow through the port 2! and connection it to the displacement chamber of the ram l3 and positively ele- The ram I 3 may then be utilized to perform diverse classes of work, and further movement of the plunger 14 may be quickly arrested by manipulatin the hand wheel 35 so as to cause the spindle 28 to open the ball valve 25 as shown in Fig. 4. As soon as the ball valve 25 is opened, the liquid under pressure entering the passage 20 through the port 22 will be released past the ball valve 25 and through the port 23 and tube I8, and will be returned to the reservoir 7. The reduction in pressure within the passage 20 thus produced, will cause the spring 30 and the pressure within the displacement chamber of the ram l3 and in the connection It, to quickly seat the ball valve 24, thus holding the ram plunger l4 in elevated position. pump will then merely cause the liquid to circulate freely through the pipe I0, hose I1, port 22, passage 20, port 23 and tube I8, without inducing undesirable back pressure upon the pump.

Continued operation of the When it becomes desirable to lower the ram plunger [4, the spindle 28 should be further lowered by manipulating the hand wheel 35 to the position shown in Fig 5, wherein the spindle 28 further lowers the ball valve 25 and causes the intervening spacer 26 to also positively open the lower ball valve 24'. With the parts thus positioned, the pressure upon the ram plunger [4 will force liquid out of the ram displacement chamber through the connection l5 and port 2| and will cause this liquid to mingle with the liquid being circulated by the pump through the port 22 and passage and which is being returned to the reservoir 1 through the port 23 and tube 18. If the ram i3 is no longer to be actuated, the spindle 28 may be raised by manipulation of the hand wheel 35 to the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the spring. 30 will close the lower ball valve 24 and free circulation of liquid from the pump will be maintained by the open upper ball valve 25.

It will thus be noted that the improved valve assemblage may be readily manipulated to either raise the plunger I4, to hold this plunger in elevated position, or to lower the plunger at will, and that the pump 8 may also continue its operation even if the ram I3 is not being actuated. It has heretofore been customary to utilize a hand operated pump in systems of this type, and the operator was obligated to close a release valve by turning the hand wheel thereof to the right in order to cause the ram to raise a load. In order to eliminate confusion in cases where the improved valve assemblage andfa' continuously operating pump are substituted'for the prior hand operated pump, the left hand thread 36 is provided on the spindle 28. This left hand thread permits the valve stem or spindle to be fully retracted when turning the hand wheel to the right, thus seating the return ball valve and forcing oil to flow to the ram l3. It should be apparent, that a right hand thread may, however, be utilized on the valve stem or spindle 28, if so desired.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that our present invention provides an improved hydraulic power transmitting system which besides being extremely simple, compact and durable in construction, is also extremely reliable and efllcient in operation. The improved assemblage may obviousl be manufactured at moderate cost and conveniently installed in a typical hydraulic power transmitting system, and all parts of the assemblage [5 are conveniently accessible and may be readily assembled or dismantled. The control valve assemblage l5 permits either prompt raising, holding, or lowering of the ram plunger I4, and also permits the pump 8 to continue its operation regardless of whether the ram I3 is being utilized or not, withoutsubjecting the pump to undesirable back pressure. The power consumption is thus reduced to an absolute minimum, and the improved control mechanism has proven highly satisfactory and successful especially in conjunction with hydraulic ram actuating systems such as disclosed herein, but

may also be utilized for analogous purposes.-

While the ball valves 24, 25 are constantly urged toward their seats by springs, the spring 33 associated with the return ball valve 25 is adapted to be made entirely ineffective by proper manipulation of the spindle 28, so that both of the ball valves 24, 25 are positively opened and maintained in opened position when actuated as shown in Fig 5.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a hydraulic control valve assembly, a casing having a rectilinear passage provided near one end with a pressure outlet port and near its opposite end with a Waste outlet port and between said outlet ports with a pressure inlet port, said passage being enlarged between said pressure inlet and Waste outlet ports to provide an annular waste valve seat and between said pressure inlet and pressure outlet ports to provide an annular pressure valve seat, waste control and pressure ball valves cooperable with said seats respectively and each being freely laterally movable within its adjacent passage enlargement, a compression spring interposed between said casing and said pressure control valve, 2. laterally movable floating spacer interposed between said valves and directly engaging said pressure valve in opposition to said spring, a second compression spring interposed between said spacer and said waste control valve, and an adjusting plug coacting with said waste control valve in opposition to said second spring.

2. In a hydraulic control valve assembly, a casing having a rectilinear through passage provided near one end with a pressure outlet port and near its opposite end with a waste outlet port and between said outlet ports with a pressure inlet port, said passage being enlarged between said pressure inlet and waste outlet ports to providean annular tapered waste valve seat and between said pressure inlet and pressure outlet ports to provide an annular likewise tapered pressure valve seat, waste control and pressure ball valves cooperable with said seats respectively and each being freely laterally movable within its adjacent passage enlargement, a compression spring interposed between said casing and one side of said pressure control valve, 9, laterally movable floating spacer interposed between said valves within said passage and directly engaging the opposite side of said pressure valve in opposition to said spring, a second compression spring interposed between said spacer and one side of said waste control valve, and an adjusting plug coacting with the opposite side of said waste control valve in opposition to said second spring.

3. In a hydraulic control valve assembly, a casing having a rectilinear through passage provided near one end with a pressure outlet port and near its opposite end with a waste outlet port and between said outlet ports with a pressure inlet port, said passage having a removable annular seating plug located between said pressure inlet and waste outlet ports and being enlarged to provide an annular waste valve seat, and said passage also being enlarged between said pressure inlet and pressure outlet ports to provide an annular pressure valve seat, waste control and pressure ball valves cooperable with said seats respectively and each being freely laterally movable within its adjacent passage enlargement, a removable closure plug for one end of said passage, a compression spring interposed between said closure plug and said pressure control valve, a laterally movable floating spacer interposed between said valves and directly engaging said pressure valve in opposition to said spring, a second compression spring interposed between said spacer and said waste control valve, and an adjusting plug carried by said casing and coacting with said waste control valve in opposition to said second spring.

4. In a hydraulic control valve assembly, a unitary casing having a rectilinear through passage provided near one end with a pressure outlet port and near its opposite end with a waste outlet port and between said outlet ports with a pressure inlet port, said casing also having a removable annular seating plug located between said pressure inlet and waste outlet ports provided with an enlargement in said passage and with an annular waste valve seat and said passage also being enlarged between said pressure inlet and pressure outlet ports to provide an annular pressure valve seat, waste control and pressure ball valves cooperable with said seats respectively and each being freely laterally movable within its adjacent passage enlargement, a removable closure plug for one end of said passage, a compression. spring interposed between said closure plug and said pressure control valve, a laterally movable floating spacer interposed between said valves and directly engaging said pressure valve in opposition to said spring, a second compression spring interposed between said spacer and said waste control Valve, and a removable adjusting plug carried by said casing in alinement with said passage and coacting with said waste control valve in opposition to said second spring.

5. In a hydraulic control valve assembly, a casing having a rectilinear through passage provided near one end with a pressure outlet port and near its opposite end with a waste outlet port and between said outlet ports with, a pres- 3 sure inlet port, said passage being enlarged between said pressure inlet and waste outlet ports to provide an annular tapered waste valve seat and between said pressure inlet and pressure outlet ports to provide an annular similarly tapered pressure valve seat, waste control and pressure ball valves cooperable with said seats respectively and each being freely laterally movable within its adjacent passage enlargement, a compression spring interposed between said casing and said pressure control valve, a laterally movable fioating spacer interposed between said valves and extending through said pressure valve seat for direct engagement with said pressure valve in opposition to said spring, a second compression spring interposed between said spacer and said waste control valve, and an adjusting plug extending through said Waste valve seat and coacting with said Waste control valve in opposition to said second spring.

EDWARD M; PFAUSER. SIEGMUND MANDL.

REFERENCES CETED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,842,790 Lindgren Jan. 26, 1932 2,000,187 Oliver May 7, 1935 2,164,911 Garverick July 4, 1939 2,200,830 Beharrell May 14, 1940 2,293,906 Kvavle et al. Aug. 25, 1942 2,331,214 Milster Oct. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 480,897 Great Britain of 1938 

